Thursday, May 9, 2013 / by Carlos J Higareda
Demand for Home-Purchase Loans Hits 3-Year High
Mortgage applications were on the rise last week, with applications for home purchases — viewed as a leading indicator of future home sales — moving up to their highest level since May 2010, the Mortgage Bankers Association reported.
Mortgage applications for home purchases increased 2 percent last week, while applications for refinancings, which make up the biggest bulk of the index, jumped 8 percent.
Overall, MBA’s mortgage application index increased 7 percent last week, reflecting both applications for purchase and refinancings. MBA’s index covers more than three-quarters of all mortgage applications in the country.
MBA reported that the average rate on 30-year fixed-rate mortgages fell to 3.59 percent last week, its lowest point since December.
Source: “U.S. Mortgage Applications Up 7% Last Week - MBA,” The Wall Street Journal (May 8, 2013)